The Golden Globes are fast approaching, and it seems like questionable choices are being made left, right, and centre. Despite recent leadership changes, one thing hasn’t changed: the lavish and extravagant swag bags that winners and presenters receive. These goody bags are worth a mind-boggling $500,000. Yes, you read that correctly. Half a million smackeroos. It could very well be the most expensive swag bag in the history of the Golden Globes.

Just to give you a taste, here are a few items you might find in these luxurious bags: the world’s most expensive wine, emerald earrings, a luxury yacht charter, exclusive trips, a Zenith watch, private pizza classes, skincare products, tattoo sessions, and even gold caviar. And that’s just scratching the surface. Not everyone receives all these items, and all 83 nominees are given a catalogue to choose from. But still, it all seems a tad excessive, wouldn’t you agree?

But wait a minute, the Golden Globes have assured us that the luxury lifestyle magazine, Robb Report, will be donating to charity. Crisis averted, right? Not exactly. It’s fantastic that some of the money will be going to worthy causes, but it still feels like the Golden Globes are missing the point.

We all love to celebrate the success of our favourite stars, especially after such an incredible year for cinema. However, it’s difficult not to view the Golden Globes as being incredibly out of touch, especially with all the controversies surrounding the show. From bribery scandals to lack of diversity in their voting body, it’s evident that they could use a serious makeover. The excessive spending on these extravagant swag bags certainly isn’t doing them any favours.

What the Golden Globes could have done is used all this absurd swag bag money to assist those in the entertainment industry who are struggling. Whether it’s non-profits, charities, or underpaid crew members, there are plenty of ways they could have put that money to better use.

But despite all the puzzling decisions, there are still things to look forward to. This year’s nominees are more diverse, the snubs are minimal, and we’re all hoping for a fantastic show. So mark your calendars for Sunday 7th January 2024, and let’s get ready to celebrate some extraordinary talent.